Physical problems and psychosocial function in children with cancer

Abstract

Aim: to describe the physical disease and treatment-related problems and psychosocial function among children with cancer.

Method: Thirty-nine children aged seven to 12 years of age who visited three pediatric wards in Sweden answered the Life Situation Scale for Children.

Results: The most frequently reported physical problem was fatigue. Children receiving cancer treatment reported more physical problems than a comparative group who had completed treatment. The results also show that more children experience psychosocial than physical distress, and that not being able to attend school as much as they wished could explain reporting life to be less than satisfying.

Conclusion: The findings indicate the importance for nurses working with children with cancer to be aware that the treatment period is associated with more distress than the period after treatment and that more children seem to be bothered by psychosocial distress than physical aspects of the disease and treatment.